There are so many iconic city parks in Seattle that everyone loves. Once you’ve checked those off your list, however, it’s time to explore some hidden gems. These Seattle parks may not be as talked about because they’re smaller or less central, but they all have something unique to offer. You’ll find giant sculptures, fruit orchards, spawning salmon, free yoga, flea markets, and gorgeous beach sunsets at the Seattle parks listed below.
Here are some of the most underrated parks in Seattle that you may not know about!
1. Olympic Sculpture Park
Situated along the waterfront in downtown Seattle, Olympic Sculpture Park is a 9-acre park with a free outdoor sculpture museum, walking paths, an indoor pavilion that hosts events, and a Puget Sound beach. It’s a lovely place to get away from the city and take in a stunning view of the Olympic mountain range over Elliott Bay. Also Seattle Art Museum hosts a free Body and Mind program in the park that offers yoga and more.
đź“Ť2901 Western Ave
2. Carkeek Park
Carkeek Park is a 216-acre park in Seattle’s Broadview neighborhood (just north of Ballard and Golden Gardens Park). If you’re traveling from downtown Seattle it’s about a 25-minute drive but it’s worth the trip if you love nature. Carkeek Park boasts an orchard, gardens, a creek that has an impressive fall salmon run, a pedestrian railroad bridge that leads to a beach with stunning views of Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains, and six miles of trails through forests, meadows, and wetlands. You’ll also find picnic areas and a playground here. If you plan to explore the beach we highly recommend timing your visit with the sunset.
đź“Ť 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd
3. Magnuson Park
At 350-acres, Magnuson Park is the second-largest Seattle park (after Discovery Park). Located next to Lake Washington in northeast Seattle, this park offers four miles of trails along the lakeshore and through the trees. People also flock here to enjoy a swimming beach, a community garden, an indoor flea market, and a very popular 8.6-acre off-leash dog park—the only dog park in Seattle with freshwater access. The park used to be a naval airfield and you can still see the remaining structures in the park’s Historic District today.
đź“Ť7400 Sand Point Way NE
4. Kubota Garden
Kubota Garden is a 20-acre Japanese garden located in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood. It may be called a garden but it is included as one of Seattle’s city parks. Unlike the better-known Seattle Japanese Garden located in Washington Park Arboretum, Kubota Garden is free to visit and open daily throughout the year. Autumn may be the best time to visit thanks to the stunning fall foliage. Leashed dogs are welcome.
đź“Ť9817 55th Ave S
5. Ballard Locks
Also known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, the Ballard Locks are located in the Seattle neighborhood of the same name and are an underrated free attraction. The main draw are the locks that link the saltwater of Puget Sound with the freshwater of Lake Union and Lake Washington. You can watch boats and even kayaks come into the locks and be lowered and raised again with the water level. Visitors also come to view the spawning salmon. On sunny days you’ll find locals and tourists alike enjoying the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden and lounging on the grassy slopes above the water.
đź“Ť3015 NW 54th St
6. Oxbow Park
Located in the Georgetown neighborhood (about a 15-minute drive from downtown Seattle), Oxbow Park is a quirky hidden gem in Seattle that even some locals don’t know about. The giant cowboy boots and hat structures are leftover from a 1953 Western-themed gas station. For a time it was the most popular gas station in Seattle. The gas station is long gone now but Hat n’ Boots remain as an integral part of Georgetown’s soul.
đź“Ť6430 Corson Ave S